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A voluntary simplicity lifestyle : Values, adoption, practices and effects

Osikominu, Jessica and Bocken, Nancy LU (2020) In Sustainability (Switzerland) 12(5).
Abstract

Adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) contributes to a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable ones, which is urgently needed. This study defines the VSL as a voluntary reduction of income and consumption in exchange for more free time. Our research aims to contribute with more detailed VSL criteria. A literature review develops initial VSL criteria, which are validated against and enriched by data gathered through in-depth interviews with nine voluntary simplicity practitioners. This study contributes with: (1) more detailed insights into the value changes during lifestyle adoption of a VSL, (2) a detailed perspective on significant aspects in VSL adoption as well as how they tend to happen in sequence, and... (More)

Adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) contributes to a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable ones, which is urgently needed. This study defines the VSL as a voluntary reduction of income and consumption in exchange for more free time. Our research aims to contribute with more detailed VSL criteria. A literature review develops initial VSL criteria, which are validated against and enriched by data gathered through in-depth interviews with nine voluntary simplicity practitioners. This study contributes with: (1) more detailed insights into the value changes during lifestyle adoption of a VSL, (2) a detailed perspective on significant aspects in VSL adoption as well as how they tend to happen in sequence, and (3) insight into how consumption reduces or changes and how free time is spent when adopting a VSL. A conceptual framework for more detailed VSL criteria, as proposed in this study, is valuable to characterise the VSL lifestyle and differentiate it from other lifestyles. In sum, the study contributes to clearer perspectives on the VSL and provides detailed VSL criteria. Finally, we reaffirm the potential of VSL to contribute toward changing dominant unsustainable consumption patterns and indicate directions for future research.

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author
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Behavioural change, Intrinsic values, Schwartz Model of Universal Human Values, Simple living, Sustainable consumption, Sustainable lifestyles, Sustainable practices, Voluntary simplicity lifestyle
in
Sustainability (Switzerland)
volume
12
issue
5
article number
1903
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85082555766
ISSN
2071-1050
DOI
10.3390/su12051903
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3894b4b2-35b1-49cd-b350-6321b884668c
date added to LUP
2020-04-21 17:40:17
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:31:12
@article{3894b4b2-35b1-49cd-b350-6321b884668c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) contributes to a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable ones, which is urgently needed. This study defines the VSL as a voluntary reduction of income and consumption in exchange for more free time. Our research aims to contribute with more detailed VSL criteria. A literature review develops initial VSL criteria, which are validated against and enriched by data gathered through in-depth interviews with nine voluntary simplicity practitioners. This study contributes with: (1) more detailed insights into the value changes during lifestyle adoption of a VSL, (2) a detailed perspective on significant aspects in VSL adoption as well as how they tend to happen in sequence, and (3) insight into how consumption reduces or changes and how free time is spent when adopting a VSL. A conceptual framework for more detailed VSL criteria, as proposed in this study, is valuable to characterise the VSL lifestyle and differentiate it from other lifestyles. In sum, the study contributes to clearer perspectives on the VSL and provides detailed VSL criteria. Finally, we reaffirm the potential of VSL to contribute toward changing dominant unsustainable consumption patterns and indicate directions for future research.</p>}},
  author       = {{Osikominu, Jessica and Bocken, Nancy}},
  issn         = {{2071-1050}},
  keywords     = {{Behavioural change; Intrinsic values; Schwartz Model of Universal Human Values; Simple living; Sustainable consumption; Sustainable lifestyles; Sustainable practices; Voluntary simplicity lifestyle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{5}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Sustainability (Switzerland)}},
  title        = {{A voluntary simplicity lifestyle : Values, adoption, practices and effects}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12051903}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/su12051903}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}